Talking of poems: our poet laureate is back from his holiday. Here are his thoughts:
We set off in Balmoral
for our cruise to the Canaries.
It was November after all
and the weather often varies.
The passengers were elderly
(some even more than I);
The wind was gusting 30 knots,
black clouds across the sky.
The wind howled through the rigging –
to stay upright we fought,
Waves broke across the fo’c’sle –
people hoped we soon make port.
The Bay of Biscay was quite rough,
but once we steamed off Spain
The passengers appeared once more
and we saw smiles again!
Some had worn their wrist bands
some took seasick pills,
They didn’t come for meals
(it didn’t help their ills).
Dengie Fever in Madeira –
(Mosquito Spray sales good);
But nobody has caught it –
I didn’t think they would!
The rain came off the mountains,
the sun won’t come just yet,
So we stayed in our cabin
and thus did not get wet.
My medicine was whisky
(supplied free in our suite).
There was good espresso coffee,
and endless food to eat.
Two weeks of total idleness
(I didn’t go ashore)
Just reading, eating, drinking –
now who could ask for more!!
Mike Pennell
